Energy storage tank having function of fixing energy storage units

ABSTRACT

An energy storage tank having a function of fixing energy storage units used for a working liquid includes a fixing assembly and a tank body that is for filling of the working liquid and has a bottom plate. The fixing assembly is received in the tank body and includes a fixing part to which the energy storage units are connected and an installation part that is fixed at the fixing part and disposed on the bottom plate. The installation part and the fixing part hold the energy storage units completely in the working liquid. Therefore, the energy storage units are fixed in the tank body in series or by group and distributed evenly in the working liquid such that each of the energy storage units can completely contact the working liquid to enhance energy storage efficiency of the energy storage tank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an energy storage structure containinga cold storage liquid or a heat storage liquid and, in particular, to anenergy storage tank having a function of fixing energy storage units.

2. Description of Related Art

In general, an energy storage air-conditioning system has a tank bodywhich contains a working liquid for freezing or heating and severalenergy storage units. The energy storage units are scattered in the tankbody. For example, ice balls are commonly used to be put in the coldstorage tank.

However, the biggest problem regarding the scattered ice balls is thatthe density of the ice ball is smaller than that of the working liquid.Besides, a large amount of the ice balls causes accumulation and part ofthe ice balls will float on the working liquid. As a result, the iceballs in the upper layer of the working liquid may not be frozen and thecold storage amount is lower than expected, resulting in a low coldamount in the ice balls such that the cold amount released by the energyair-conditioning system is lower than the theoretical value.

In view of foregoing, the inventor pays special attention to the aboveexisting technology and researches with the application of relatedtheory to overcome the above disadvantages regarding the above relatedart, which becomes the goal of the inventor's improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One objective of the present invention is to provide an energy storagetank having a function of fixing energy storage units, which usesinstallation parts and fixing parts to hold the energy storage unitscompletely in the working liquid such that the energy storage units arefixed in the tank body in series or by group and distributed evenly inthe working liquid. Compared with the traditional way in which theenergy storage units are scattered and float on the working liquid, thepresent invention can ensure each energy storage unit completelycontacts the working liquid, which enhances energy storage efficiency ofthe energy storage tank.

To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides an energystorage tank having a function of fixing energy storage units used for aworking liquid. The energy storage tank comprises a tank body used forfilling of the working liquid and having a bottom plate and a fixingassembly received in the tank body. The fixing assembly comprises afixing part and an installation part fixed at one end of the fixingpart. The energy storage units are connected to the fixing part. Theinstallation part is disposed on the bottom plate. Both of theinstallation part and the fixing part hold the energy storage unitscompletely in the working liquid

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the fixing assembly accordingto the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the energy storage tankaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the energy storage tankaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the energy storage tankaccording to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the energy storage tankaccording to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the energy storage tankaccording to the fifth embodiment of the present invention;.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the energy storage tankaccording to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the energy storage tankaccording to the seventh embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the energy storage tankaccording to the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description and technical details of the present inventionwill be explained below with reference to accompanying figures. However,the accompanying figures are only for reference and explanation, but notto limit the scope of the present invention.

Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. The present invention provides an energystorage tank having a function of fixing energy storage units. Theenergy storage tank 10 comprises a tank body 1 and at least one fixingassembly 2.

The energy storage tank 10 is mainly used for a working liquid 100 andat least one energy storage units 200. The working liquid 100 is arefrigerating liquid or a heating liquid. Each of energy storage units200 contains cold storage material or heat storage material such thatwhen the energy storage unit 200 is submerged in the working liquid 100,the effect of pre-refrigeration or pre-heating can be achieved.

In addition, each energy storage unit 200 may be a geometric block suchas a spherical shape, a circular shape, a cylindrical block, arectangular block, a triangular block, an annulus block, a rectangularring, and a triangular ring. However, the shape of the energy storageunit 200 is not limited to that of the current embodiment.

The tank body 1 is used for filling of the working liquid 100 and has abottom plate 11. The bottom plate 11 has an internal side surface 13 andan external side surface 14.

There are plural fixing assemblies 2 in the current embodiment, but notlimited to this. Each of the fixing assemblies 2 is received in the tankbody 1 and comprises a fixing part 21 and an installation part 22 fixedat one end of the fixing part 21. Several energy storage units 200 areconnected to individual fixing parts 21. Each of the installation parts22 is disposed on the bottom plate 11. All of the installation parts 22and the fixing parts 21 hold the energy storage units 200 completely inthe working liquid 100.

The detailed description is given below. The installation part 22 is acounterweight block 221 which is a heavy component like a weight. Thefixing part 21 is a bag 211. There are plural energy storage units 200in the current embodiment and these energy storage units 200 altogetherare received in the bags 211.

The combination of the energy storage tank 10 of the present inventionuses the tank body 1 used for filling of the working liquid 100; thetank body 1 has the bottom plate 11. The fixing assembly 2 is receivedin the tank body 1. The fixing assembly 2 comprises a fixing part 21 andan installation part 22 fixed at one end of the fixing part 21; theenergy storage units 200 are connected to the fixing part 21. Theinstallation part 22 is disposed on the bottom plate 11; both of theinstallation part 22 and the fixing part 21 hold the energy storageunits 200 completely in the working liquid 100. In this way, the energystorage units 200 are fixed in the tank body 1 in series or by group anddistributed evenly in the working liquid 100. Compared with thetraditional way in which the energy storage units 200 are scattered andfloat on the working liquid 100, the present invention can ensure eachof the energy storage units 200 completely contacts the working liquid100, which enhances energy storage efficiency of the energy storage tank10.

Regarding the operation status of the energy storage tank 10 of thepresent invention, the plural energy storage units 200 are firstreceived in the bag 211 and then the fixing assembly 2 is placed in thetank body 1. Because the density of the energy storage unit 200 issmaller than that of the working liquid 100, the energy storage unit 200will float on the working liquid 100. The energy storage units 200 needto be configured with a counterweight block 221 which is a heavycomponent like a weight to let the counterweight blocks 221 sink to thebottom plate 11 such that the bag 211 and the energy storage units 200are completely held under the surface of the working liquid 100 to makethe energy storage units 200 be fixed in the tank body 1 in series or bygroup and distributed evenly in the working liquid 100 to store energy.Therefore, the energy storage units 200 of the present invention can beactually and completely held in the working liquid 100 such that each ofthe energy storage units 200 completely contacts the working liquid 100.Compared with the traditional way in which the energy storage unitsfloat on the working liquid, the energy storage tank 10 of the presentinvention has a better energy storage effect.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, the fixing part 21 is a bag 211. Due tothe limitation of the shape of the bag 211 and the energy storage units200 floating towards the surface of the working liquid 100, the pluralenergy storage units 200 will be aligned up and down and form in seriesor by group in the bag 211, which makes effective use of the space inthe tank body 1 and thus makes the energy storage tank 10 have excellentefficiency of energy storage.

Please refer to FIG. 3, which shows the energy storage tank 10 accordingto the second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodimentis roughly similar to the first embodiment. The difference is that thereare several magnets 111 installed on the bottom plate 11 in the secondembodiment.

The detailed description is given below. The magnets 111 are install onthe internal side surface 13 of the bottom plate 11. The installationpart 22 is a magnetic part 222 made of a material containing iron. Themagnet 111 and the magnetic part 222 attract to each other. In this way,through the magnetic attraction between the magnet 111 and the magneticpart 222, the magnetic part 222 is fixed to the bottom plate 11 suchthat the bag 211 and the energy storage units 200 are completely heldunder the surface of the working liquid 100, achieving the same functionand effect as the first embodiment.

Please refer to FIG. 4, which shows the energy storage tank 10 accordingto the third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodimentis roughly similar to the second embodiment. The difference is that themagnets 111 are installed on the external side surface 14 in the thirdembodiment.

The detailed description is given below. The magnets 111 are installedeither on the internal side surface 13 or on the external side surface14; either of the above two cases will make the magnetic parts 222 befixed steadily to the bottom plate 11 to achieve the same function andeffect as the second embodiment.

Please refer to FIG. 5, which is the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention. The fourth embodiment is roughly similar to the firstembodiment. The difference is that the bottom plate 11 is provided withplural magnetic parts 112 in the fourth embodiment.

A further explanation is given below. The bottom plate 11 is made of amaterial containing iron such that the bottom plate 11 itself is amagnetic part 112. The installation part 22 is a magnet 223. The magnet223 and the magnetic part 112 attract to each other. In this way,through the magnetic attraction between the magnet 223 and the magneticpart 112, the magnet 223 is fixed to the bottom plate 11 such that thebag 211 and the energy storage units 200 are completely held under thesurface of the working liquid 100, achieving the same function andeffect as the first embodiment.

Please refer to FIG. 6, which is the fifth embodiment of the presentinvention. The fifth embodiment is roughly similar to the firstembodiment. The difference is that the fixing part 21 is a rope 212 inthe fifth embodiment.

A further explanation is given below. The fixing part 21 is a rope 212.A through hole 201 is disposed at each of the energy storage units 200.Several energy storage units 200 are disposed in series to the rope 212through the through holes 201. Thus, the fifth embodiment achieves thesame function and effect as the first embodiment. Also, the pluralenergy storage units 200 will be aligned up and down and form in seriesor by group through the rope 212, which makes effective use of the spacein the tank body 1 and thus makes the energy storage tank 10 haveexcellent efficiency of energy storage.

Besides, the fixing part 21 can be a rod which makes the energy storageunits 200 be disposed in series to the rod through the through holes201. Thus, the fixing part 21 of the current embodiment can be a rope212 or a rod.

Please refer to FIG. 7, which is the sixth embodiment of the presentinvention. The sixth embodiment is roughly similar to the firstembodiment. The difference is that a first hook 113 is installed on thebottom plate 11 in the sixth embodiment.

A further description is given below. The first hook 113 is installed onthe bottom plate 11; the installation part 22 is a second hook 224. Thefirst hook 113 and the second hook 224 hook to each other. In this way,through the hooking between the first hook 113 and the second hook 224,the second hook 224 is fixed to the bottom plate 11 such that the bag211 and the energy storage units 200 are completely held under thesurface of the working liquid 100, achieving the same function andeffect as the first embodiment.

Also, the first hook 113 has a roughly U-like shape and the second hook224 has a roughly C-like shape. The U-like hook and the C-like hook hookto each other.

Please refer to FIG. 8, which is the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention. The seventh embodiment is roughly similar to the sixthembodiment. The difference is that the first hook 113 has a roughlyC-shape in the seventh embodiment.

The detailed description is given below. As shown in FIG. 7, the firsthook 113 has a roughly U-like shape and the second hook 224 has aroughly C-like shape. The U-like hook and the C-like hook hook to eachother. As shown in FIG. 8, the first hook 113 has a roughly C-like shapeand the second hook 224 has a roughly O-like shape. The C-like hook andthe O-like hook can also hook to each other, achieving the same functionand effect as the sixth embodiment. However, the fixing assembly 2 isapt to sway in the working liquid 100. The hook which has a U-like orO-like shape can prevent the two attached hooks from swaying andseparating from each other to enhance the hooking stability.

Similarly, both of the first hook 113 and the second hook 224 can have aC-like shape. These two C-like hooks can hook to each other to achievethe same function and effect as the sixth embodiment.

Please refer to FIG. 9, which is the eighth embodiment of the presentinvention. The eighth embodiment is roughly similar to the sixthembodiment. The difference is that the fixing assembly 2 furthercomprise a counterweight part 23 in the eighth embodiment.

A further description is given below. The fixing assembly 2 furthercomprises a counterweight part 23 which is a heavy component like aweight. A third hook 231 and a fourth hook 232 are individually disposedat each of two ends of the counterweight part 23. The third hook 231 andthe first hook 113 hook to each other; the fourth hook 232 and thesecond hook 224 hook to each other. Thus, the weight of the fixingassembly 2 is increased by adding the counterweight part 23 such thatthe second hook 224 is more stably fixed to the bottom plate 11,achieving the same function and effect as the sixth embodiment.

Moreover, one of the third hook 231 and the first hook 113 can have aU-like shape and the other can have a C-like shape such that the thirdhook 231 and the first hook 113 can hook to each other. One of thefourth hook 232 and the second hook 224 can have an O-like shape and theother can have a C-like shape such that the fourth hook 232 and thesecond hook 224 can hook to each other. However, the fixing assembly 2is apt to sway in the working liquid 100. The hook which has a U-like orO-like shape can prevent the two attached hooks from swaying andseparating from each other to enhance the hooking stability.

Similarly, both of the third hook 231 and the first hook 113 can have aC-like shape to achieve the effect of hooking between the third hook 231and the first hook 113. Both of the fourth hook 232 and the second hook224 can have a C-like shape to achieve the effect of hooking between thefourth hook 232 and the second hook 224.

In summary, the energy storage tank 10 having a function of fixingenergy storage units of the present invention which is not anticipatedby similar products and not used in public is indeed novel, useful, andnon-obvious to be patentable. Please examine the application carefullyand grant it as a formal patent for protecting the rights of theinventor.

What is claimed is:
 1. An energy storage tank (10) having a function offixing energy storage units (200) used for a working liquid (100), theenergy storage tank (10) comprising: a tank body (1) used for filling ofthe working liquid (100) and having a bottom plate (11); and a fixingassembly (2) received in the tank body (1), wherein the fixing assembly(2) comprises a fixing part (21) and an installation part (22) fixed atone end of the fixing part (21), wherein the energy storage units (200)are connected to the fixing part (21), wherein the installation part(22) is disposed on the bottom plate (11), wherein both of theinstallation part (22) and the fixing part (21) hold the energy storageunits (200) completely in the working liquid (100).
 2. The energystorage tank (10) according to claim 1, wherein the installation part(22) is a counterweight block (221).
 3. The energy storage tank (10)according to claim 1, wherein the bottom plate (11) is provided with amagnetic part (112), wherein the installation part (22) is a magnet(223), wherein the magnet (223) and the magnetic part (112) attract toeach other.
 4. The energy storage tank (10) according to claim 1,wherein the bottom plate (11) is provided with a magnet (111), whereinthe installation part (22) is a magnetic part (222), wherein the magnet(111) and the magnetic part (222) attract to each other.
 5. The energystorage tank (10) according to claim 4, wherein the bottom plate (11)has an internal side surface (13) and an external side surface (14),wherein the magnet (111) is installed on the internal side surface (13)or on the external side surface (14).
 6. The energy storage tank (10)according to claim 1, wherein a first hook (113) is installed on thebottom plate (11), wherein the installation part (22) is a second hook(224), wherein the first hook (113) and the second hook (224) hook toeach other.
 7. The energy storage tank (10) according to claim 6,wherein the fixing assembly (2) further comprises a counterweight part(23), wherein a third hook (231) and a fourth hook (232) are disposed attwo ends of the counterweight part (23), wherein the third hook (231)and the first hook (113) hook to each other, wherein the fourth hook(232) and the second hook (224) hook to each other.
 8. The energystorage tank (10) according to claim 1, wherein the fixing part (21) isa bag (211) in which the energy storage units (200) are received.
 9. Theenergy storage tank (10) according to claim 1, wherein the fixing part(21) is a rope (212), wherein a through hole (201) is disposed at eachof the energy storage units (200), wherein the energy storage units(200) are disposed in series to the rope (212) through the through holes(201).
 10. The energy storage tank (10) according to claim 1, whereinthe fixing part (21) is a rod, wherein a through hole (201) is disposedat each of the energy storage units (200), wherein the energy storageunits (200) are disposed in series to the rod through the through holes(201).